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Friday, 29 January 2016

The Institute of Employment Rights would like to invite you to a round-table discussion to take place onFriday 12 February at the TUC, London. You are invited to join us for a continental breakfast at 8.30amand the meeting will start at 9.00am. The meeting will finish no later than 11am.

This meeting has been jointly organized by IER, SERTUC and UNITE and will involve:

Prior to the 2015 UK general election various Conservative sources referred to the “Spanish model” of controlling trade union protests. Now we have the Trade Union Bill being pushed through Parliament and many of the attacks contained in that Bill reflect similar laws in Spain.

So how are Spanish laws being used to restrict trade union rights and what can we learn from our Spanish colleagues? The headline news is that eight Air Bus workers are in court in Spain facing an eight year sentence for offences related to the Spanish “gagging law”.

At this invitation only breakfast meeting we will have two Spanish trade unionists explaining the law, assessing it impact and answering any queries we might have.

What the law does:

In summary, the “gagging law” is aimed at protestsin support of industrial disputes, within a framework intended to cause maximum financial damage and intimidation including:

·Strikers are allowed to film pickets but not the police therefore in practical terms no filming

·there are strict rules regarding wearing of badges and T-shirts in the vicinity of a strike

·Workers classified as providing “services of general interest” are within scope and the definition being applied is very wide.

·A blanket ban on any protest in areas of interest to tourism can be applied.

Actions against breaches of law

·People are deprived access to the court.

·Sanctions for breaches of this new law are ‘administrative’ sanctions are being automatically imposed by the police for breaches of the law

·Legal challenges have poor prospects of success and are guaranteed to be more costly than the administrative fine imposed.

·Fines are enforced via a civil process, with personal assets under threat of seizure.

A group of 13 Plane Stupid campaigners who caused 25 flight cancellations after breaking in to Heathrow Airport 's north runway have been found guilty today of aggravated trespass and entering a security restricted area.

The seven men and six women cut a hole in a fence and chained themselves to railings on the north runway, beginning at around 3.30am on July 13 2015.

As the verdict was read out, one defendant shouted: "This is a farce!", as other gasped in disbelief.District Judge Wright has told defendants they can expect jail sentences for their actions.

During their three-day trial at Willesden Magistrates' Court, defendants told of how they carried out the pre-planned action in order to 'save lives', using the defence of necessity.

The protesters claimed their actions were necessary and reasonable in order to reduce carbon emissions and halt climate change.

Mr McGhee, prosecuting, said: “Why do you feel that your conscience entitles you to break the law?”To which Mr Thompson replied: “In the context of this situation, breaking the law was not the most serious issue at hand.”

On the 2nd of February the Bristol People’s Assembly is joining forces with the Bristol CND and the Bristol Stop the War Coalition to host a public meeting and rally against the renewal of the trident nuclear weapon system and the continued bombing of Syria. Join us in calling for ‘Welfare not Warfare’.

The government is expected to force a vote on renewal of Trident in a few months time. The majority of the British people, including the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn (though sadly not all of his MPs), the Greens and the Scottish and Welsh Nationalist all oppose nuclear weapons. They are deadly relics of a bygone era, weapons of mass destruction that would indiscriminately kill millions, and which are completely useless against the threats Britain faces. They don’t keep us safe and they divert resources from essential spending.

We are seeing devastating cuts to vital services, most tragically our NHS, and millions are forced to use food banks as the government no longer pays benefits adequate for many people to survive. In such a situation it is a huge travesty that the government wants to waste over £100 billion on renewing the deadly and useless white elephant that is trident.

We’ll be coming together at the trinity centre to protest against the renewal of trident and the continued bombing of Syria.

We all oppose the brutal outrageous committed by Daesh/ISIS, but further Western intervention in the form of Britain joining the 12 other countries already bombing Syria is unlikely to achieve anything constructive. Simultaneously it plays into ISISs hands by giving credence to their clash of civilisations rhetoric in which they portrays themselves as protecting Muslims against a hostile and militant west. At the same time despite the promises of Cameron and the champions of intervention British bombs are already killing innocent civilians and further adding to the bloodshed and misery inflicted on Syria and its unfortunate people.

Furthermore, the obscene cost of this and other unnecessary interventions is a smack in the face to everyone on the sharp end of austerity Britain. The cost of just one air strike mission is over half a million pounds, and we will likely spend many hundreds of millions over the year in this latest military entanglement. The cost of bombing Daesh/ISIS in Iraq is already over £200 million a year and it seems this figure is sure to rise as our involvement escalates.

It tells us a lot about our elite that they would rather priorities fruitless military intervention and seeming tough on defence over looking after their own people. We saw this link between austerity and war most clearly in the last budget when the government increased total defence spending by £12 billion, the exact same amount they simultaneously decided to cut from welfare. As the late and great Tony Benn used to say “If we can find the money to kill people, we can find the money to help people”.

That’s why we’ve organised this event and are bringing you a fantastic line up of speakers from across the movement to demand Welfare Not Warfare.

Join us to say no to Trident, no to war and no to austerity. We deserve better!

They’ll all be making the links between austerity and war more explicit and arming us with the arguments we need to make the case for peace and equality.

We’ll also be trying to raise awareness (and funds for coaches) for the national march against trident in London on Saturday the 27th of February. If we are to overcome the powerful vested interested at the heart of the Conservative party (and sadly infecting some of the parliamentary Labour party too) bent on pushing through trident renewal against the wishes of the people than making this demonstration big and vibrant will be key. Naturally we’ll be supporting Bristol CND who are organising coaches: (if you want to buy a ticket please see www.bristolcnd.org.uk ).

Friday, 22 January 2016

acknowledgements to http://wembleymatters.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/tell-asda-to-look-after-their-staff.html

The GMB union is fighting proposals by Asda to cut staff free hot drinks
and remove vending machines. Asda are said to have seen falling turnover
in the face of competition from Lidl andAldi.

The GMB is the only union to have successfully gained recognition in the
Walmart international empire. They have launched a petition
against the changes. This is their statement:

On 13th January 2016 ASDA informed GMB of their proposal to change the
canteen offer within stores. This could result in the closure of the breakfast
offer, removal of chilled vending machines and removal of free tea, coffee and
toast which is available within its smaller stores.

GMB are aware from speaking to members and colleagues that this is an emotive
subject and understand how valuable these facilities are to you as hard
working, dedicated colleagues within ASDA.

We are therefore requesting that you sign the petition so that this can
be presented both through the consultation process and Andy Clarke CEO to
ensure ‘Your Voice’ is heard on this matter.

Over the 9 years I have worked for Asda
I have seen a decline in the company looking after the colleagues I agree times
change and cost go up but you need to keep your workforce happy to keep your
customers happy and removing colleague canteens is the wrong way to go this is
an engine room for colleagues to reboot themselves and chat and get rid of
stress eat and drink breakfast is the start of the day our store has a cafe
downstairs bacon butties and more are a £1 that's great but can you imagine ten
to twenty colleagues queuing up for their breakfast and wasting their break
time of 15-20 mins so then making them late going back onto the shop floor and
such could also lead to disciplinaries come on there must be costs you can cut
elsewhere keep the troops happy mr Clark

I do not work for Asda, but do shop
there but may have to start shopping elsewhere if this is the sort of company
my shopping spends supports. This is so wrong on so many levels. A good company
would look after their workforce and make sure they have hot drinks and food
available. Its the staff that makes the company, So come on Asda treat your
wonderful staff better.

It is advisable not to engage Asda staff in conversation about the issue
as this could result in disciplinary action against them but if you sign the
petition they will know they have public support.

Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Greens constantly seem to ignore the fact that there are more 50+ voters than 50- voters in the UK.

Some Green issues vaguely cover some of the problems that effect seniors but there are many that are specific.g Housing. Does not cover sheltered housing, care Homes, bed blocking, the need for single bedroom units.

With austerity cuts the Government are renegading on their duty to inform seniors of their rights. They no longer send information to seniors with leaflets. Everything is on line. Seniors cannot afford internet access and there is no appropriate training to their needs. Many Libraries and Community centres have been closed where seniors might have got some advice and help. In fact those of us who have paid out for devices and internet service are subsidising the Government duties.

Unless Greens start addressing the specific problems seniors face they are seen to be neglecting a vast section of the UK population of voters.

Considering the Government ONLY inform seniors of their rights by the internet many seniors are excluded from essential information by the very cost of internet access.

More details

An allowance of £200 per year, similar to winter fuel allowance should be granted to state pensioners to enable them internet access from their homes.Many seniors are house bound and cannot make use of provision of internet access in libraries or other free facilities. The government have recently announced the possibility of medical advice from GP's via the internet. They would be able to communicate with local services, buy their weekly provisions and make use of the infinite services available to contribute to their well being.

Monday, 18 January 2016

The government has nearly succeeded in pushing through its anti-democratic Trade Union Bill, without one crucial reform. The government wants to stop trade union members from voting via the internet on whether to take industrial action.
The government is refusing to budge, but there is a chance we can force it to reconsider. The Bill is about to go before a committee of MPs for line-by-line scrutiny. This still gives us the chance to force the government to make amendments and allow simple, secure online voting.
The government is hoping to make it really hard for trade union members to legally go on strike. It doesn’t want anything in the Bill that could make it easier for ordinary trade union members to vote, like using online voting.So here’s the plan: We’re going to hold our very own online ballot! That way we can show the government just how silly its position is, and hopefully force it to back down.

The government knows that by allowing online voting, it will increase turnout and make ballots more legitimate. That’s why it’s refusing to modernise the rules. It claims that online voting isn’t secure. If we can do our banking online, pay our taxes online and apply for a passport or driving licence, then a few simple clicks registering a vote should be pretty simple.
Strikes aren’t always the most popular thing with the public, but they are an important tool to make bad bosses behave better. Without the ability to strike, it would allow big corporations to roll back decades of improvements to our working lives, like decent pensions, protection from unfair dismissal and stopping discrimination at work.By voting, you will show the government that its position makes no sense and it will have to include online balloting in the bill. If we can force online voting into the Bill, then we will help workers up and down the country who work for bad bosses by making sure they can legally strike and fight for their rights. Cast your votes now!

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Help us Launch the DemoNext week we will have a public launch in the media and on social media when we have more details and we want your help. We will send more info early in the week about how you can help but please get ready to share and spread the word

We face a vicious government who prioritise only the richest in society, big business and the corporations. With the potential of 4 more years of a government who will continue dismantling the NHS, furthering the housing crisis, taking away workers rights, and attacking our education system - it's time to get back on the streets and to demonstrate the majority won't take it.

The Tories aren't going to back down easily so it's up to each and every one of us to get out and march for our Health, Homes, Jobs and Education.

Last year saw massive political shifts. After the devastating general election result, where the Tories gained a tiny majority, it became clear that that result did not reflect the views of the county.

Immediately after the election, protests, meetings, rallies and demonstrations took place up and down the country culminating in one of the biggest demonstrations in Britain for years with 250,000 people bringing London to a stand still on the End Austerity Now Demonstration organised by the People's Assembly.

Since then, the surge in support for anti austerity politics, being put forward by Jeremy Corbyn, is yet another indication that people are fed up with policies that only represent those at the top.

See you in London on April 16. Let's make this the biggest demonstration possible. Transport will be arranged from across the country, full details inc. time, assembly point, route and speakers will be announced soon.Solidarity,

A faux betting shop storefront has been erected outside a London
hospital and the Palace of Westminster by the junior doctors campaign group,
ahead of the first planned strike on Tuesday January 12, to represent how
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s plans to introduce radical reforms to doctors’
contracts could gamble with the public’s health.

The betting shop, dubbed “Jeremy’s Punt” was launched as the
Government's continued failure to address doctors' concerns that no proper
safeguards have been put in place to prevent hospitals from forcing them to
work dangerously long hours.

Junior doctors are worried that the new contract will lead to
increasingly unsafe working patterns without adequate rest and recovery, as
well as changes to the definition of ‘office hours’ weekday and weekend
working.

The fake betting shop was offering ‘Money Back’ if Hunt re-negotiates,
‘Evens on being treated by an overworked doctor’ and ‘3/1 on reforms causing a
preventable medical error’ as a way to get the message across.

The monitoring system that protects the number of hours junior doctors
can work has been in place for over 15 years, but now, under the proposed
reforms, faces a drastic alteration that could put the public’s lives in
danger, doctors say.

Following a freedom of information request, doctors have received
confirmation from the Department Of Health that there has been no specific
assessment into modeling patient safety under the new contract, showing that
Hunt’s actions are a gamble.

Doctors’ fears carry merit as the most recent study into fatigue and
medical errors, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in
September 2009*, revealed that fatigue could see an increase of medical error
rise by 15%.

Dr Nadia Masood, an anaesthetic trainee in London said:

We work hard to keep our patients safe and want to continue doing
so. You wouldn’t drive for 13 hours without proper breaks, yet the
government want to remove vital safeguards in their version of the new
contract. Tired doctors make mistakes, this contract doesn’t protect patients
or staff adequately.

We chose this profession because of an innate passion for the care of
people, but these reforms are showing a lack of that for both the public and
us. We cannot gamble with people’s lives, plain and simple.

Initially the government was content to remove the safeguards entirely,
but under pressure from the BMA (British Medical Association), created the role
of ‘guardian’ to protect junior doctors from working unsafe hours. However, the
Government is insisting that hospital trusts make this appointment, without
input from the BMA, leading to a conflict of interest where junior doctors
believe the guardian’s true agenda will be helping the overstretched hospital
trusts to cut costs, not ending unsafe practice.

The proposed contract will also mean that doctors working shifts as late
as 1.59am, which are not classified as night shifts, will not receive the
necessary protections (breaks and rest periods) before being back on duty.

Dr Marie-Estella McVeigh, a junior doctor in London said:

For all of us, the strikes, planned to start on Tuesday, are the last
resort to make Jeremy Hunt listen to the issues that we face on the front line
of patient care. This is not about getting more money; the Government and BMA
have agreed right from the start that the total cost of changes remains
neutral, there’s no increase in the pay bill.

As doctors we are deeply concerned about safety. We feel the Government
are not listening to our concerns and are playing games by ignoring 50,000
junior doctor whistle-blowers.

The current dispute centres on the Government’s new contract offer,
which focuses on changes in working hours, patterns and conditions as well as
restructuring and distributing pay within a neutral pay package.

Please contact P.Murry at yrrumuk@googlemail.com if you are interested.

GREEN LEFT FRINGE AT AUTUMN CONFERENCE 2012

Both Green Left and the Green Party Trade Union Group applied to have fringes at the Green Party Conference September 7-10 2012, Conferences Committee turned down both these requests. Green Left decided to mount a fringe outside conference at 6-8pm on Saturday 8th September GPTU agreed to support this meeting and contribute towards costs of room hire. Video clips at http://greenleftblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/green-left-fringe-fringe-at-green-party.html